Woman charged under new straw purchase gun law

By Mari A. Schaefer, Inquirer Staff Writer

Stacie Dawson has a chance to become a first in Pennsylvania criminal history.

Under the new "Brad Fox Law," named for a fallen Plymouth Township police officer, the 21-year-old Chester woman could end up spending the next five years behind bars.

The law, which went into effect in the fall, is aimed at toughening penalties for those who purchase guns for convicted felons. Dawson, charged Thursday, could become the first sentenced.

In September, Fox was killed in the line of duty while pursuing a hit-and-run suspect who had illegally purchased guns from another individual.

According to court records, in February Dawson allegedly bought two handguns during two trips to Miller's Sporting Goods in Lower Chichester Township.

On March 5, her boyfriend, David "D-Nice" Colon, 22, was arrested on drug charges and brought to the Delaware County jail along with Shamar Atkinson, 18, who was charged with carrying a handgun purchased by Dawson. Both had prior criminal convictions.

Initially Dawson told police that she bought the guns for protection. When a gun was missing, she believed Colon had the weapon.

Taped phone calls from the prison between Colon and Atkinson to Dawson allegedly revealed a different version of events.

Colon was heard coaching Dawson on how to report the gun theft and what type of story to use.

Delaware County District Attorney Jack Whelan said in a statement that reducing gun violence is a priority.

"We aggressively target straw purchases to reduce one of the methods convicted felons use to obtain firearms illegally," Whelan said. "It is our hope that these prosecutions will discourage people from purchasing guns and placing them in the hands of dangerous criminals."